One Call Now continues to be our emergency broadcast notification system. This Web-based system will help streamline communications with our emergency notification protocols for students, parents and staff. Additionally, we will continue to contact media sources to announce school closings for weather emergencies. We use voice, e-mail and text to alert our parents and staff during inclement weather.

Sign up for text messaging from One Call Now by texting the word “alert” to 22300, as long as your cell phone number is already in the One Call Now database. To add your cell phone number or to check the status of your phone numbers and e-mail addresses, please go to the Self Update Portal to sign up or log in to access your information. The link is located on our broadcast page at: http://www.kentschools.net/parents/parent-broadcast/

The Mission Statement of the Kent City Schools: The Kent City Schools and Community will endeavor to see that all students have access to the resources and tools necessary to improve academically, socially and emotionally. Providing support in these areas will help students and staff to adopt behaviors that will enhance their well-being and quality of life.

Embedded in our Mission Statement is the inference that such resources and tools are available to students with disabilities in what is referred to as “the least restrictive environment.” With the current focus on standards and accountability nationally and across the state of Ohio, a “key aspect in thinking about achievement of students with disabilities is access – access to general education curriculum, access to quality instruction, and access to peers.” (Theoharis and Causton, 2014)

Through extensive collaboration, a team of educators across our district is in the process of devoting their time, attention, ideas and expertise to examine our least restrictive environments. Since the 14-member team represents elementary, middle and high school levels, every faculty or staff member in the district will have a voice on this team.

The LRE Team will be meeting throughout the 2016-2017 school year and possibly beyond. The Team has identified the first step in the process as raising awareness and deepening understanding of what it means to educate students in the least restrictive environment. Click hereto watch a short, three-minute video titled, “Shelley Moore: Transforming Inclusive Education,” which may give you some insight into this process.

Thank you again for your support of the Kent City Schools.

Sincerely,

George J. Joseph on behalf of the “The LRE Team”

United Way kick-off for Kent City Schools 2017

The United Way campaign kick-off for Kent City Schools 2017 starts Friday, October 28. I have scheduled presentations during staff meetings in October and November to share United Way information with staff. During this presentation, the staff is encouraged to participate and contribute to the 2017 United Way campaign.

Working families continue to face economic challenges. At the local level, United Way has achieved measurable success putting individuals and families on the road to financial stability. Many of our own Kent City Schools families benefit from United Way.

United Way of Portage County fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. LIVE UNITED!

Coffee and Conversation with the Superintendent on November 30, 2016

Please join me for future coffee and conversations at Little City Grill, 802 North Mantua from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. It’s a great way to learn about future school events, share ideas and ask questions.

During the 2016-17 school year, our instrumental music department is piloting a new strategy for beginning band and orchestra. This fall, students will start their band and orchestra experience in the sixth grade instead of the fifth grade. This change is a reallocation of resources in order to more effectively serve the needs of our students.

During the past several years, time allocated for fifth grade band and orchestra varied in different elementary buildings. Some students received as little as 20 minutes of instruction per week. Elementary state assessment schedules during the months of March and April limited instructional time even further. For example, several fifth grade band students received only one lesson during a six-week period last spring.

This was not an effective way for our students to begin their band or orchestra experience. Both students and their parents became discouraged at the lack of musical progress. Therefore, our instrumental music teachers spent time researching alternative plans and discussing the options available. They consulted with school administrators and received approval from the Board of Education to try something new. We believe the result of this two-year pilot program will be a better learning experience for students.

Beginning this year at Stanton Middle School, sixth grade band and orchestra students will receive daily instruction in like-instrument groups for a period of 44 minutes. In just two weeks, we exceeded the total amount of band and orchestra instructional time that any fifth grader received last year. We believe that consistent daily instruction will lead to higher achievement and a greater rate of student retention in our instrumental music programs.

Looking ahead, instrumental music teachers will work with classroom teachers and administrators at the elementary schools to expose students to music opportunities and help fifth graders choose an instrument. This is a crucial step in our new plan, and we want every student to have a positive experience. We will communicate with parents throughout the two-year pilot program process.

Instrumental music is a significant element in students’ intellectual and creative development. The Kent City School District has a long tradition of effective music education for our students. Our goal is to enhance the beginning experience of our instrumental music programs for students.

Thank you again for your support of the Kent City Schools.

Sincerely,
George J. Joseph
Superintendent
Kent City Schools

Join me for Coffee and Conversations with the Superintendent on November 30, 2016

Please join me for future coffee and conversations at Little City Grill, 802 North Mantua from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. It’s a great way to learn about future school events, share ideas and ask questions. The following coffee and conversation times are scheduled for 2016-17.

Attention Rough Rider fans! FUN, FOOTBALL and FIREWORKS! We’ve got fun, football and fireworks on Friday night, October 26! A fantastic Pyrotecnico fireworks show will follow the marching band’s famous Script Kent—generously …Read More »

September 2018 Dear parents, New Mobile Learning Lab brings technology to schoolhouse door A new Mobile Learning Lab brings the latest in virtual reality technology right to the schoolhouse …Read More »

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321 N. DePeyster St.
Kent OH 44240
330-676-7600

About Kent City School District

Since 1860, the Kent City School district has been educating children and currently serves more than 3,300 students in four elementary buildings, one middle school and one high school. The district is comprised of the City of Kent, Franklin Township and the Village of Sugar Bush Knolls.